Bill Gates

From Eli's Software Encyclopedia
Bill Gates
Gates, William Henry III
Born October 28, 1955
Seattle, Washington
Occupation Founder, Software Developer


Career

Early Life and Education

From a young age, Gates demonstrated exceptional intelligence and curiosity, particularly in mathematics and logic. At 13, while attending Lakeside School, he was first exposed to computers through a Teletype terminal connected to a GE time-sharing system. This encounter marked the beginning of his deep and lifelong fascination with programming.

Gates quickly immersed himself in the world of code, teaching himself BASIC and debugging code for the Computer Center Corporation (CCC) in exchange for free computing time. Alongside his childhood friend Paul Allen, Gates explored the potential of early computers, often pushing the boundaries of what was possible on limited hardware.

Early Programming Ventures

Gates' first significant programming project came in 1971, when he and Allen developed a computerized scheduling system for Lakeside’s classes. Soon after, they founded a small company called Traf-O-Data, which created a system to process raw traffic data using a custom-built computer based on the Intel 8008 processor. Though the company didn’t find commercial success, it was a valuable experience that set the stage for future endeavors.

Harvard and Altair BASIC

In 1973, Gates enrolled at Harvard University, where he studied mathematics and computer science. However, he remained closely in touch with Allen and the emerging personal computing scene. In January 1975, the magazine Popular Electronics featured the MITS Altair 8800, one of the first microcomputers. Seeing a revolutionary opportunity, Gates and Allen contacted MITS, where Ed Roberts he would buy the first BASIC that would actually run on an Altair.

Working tirelessly in Harvard’s computer lab, Gates wrote the core of what became Altair BASIC, while Allen built the simulator they used for testing. In March 1975, Allen demonstrated the interpreter to MITS in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it worked flawlessly. MITS licensed the software, and Gates soon dropped out of Harvard to pursue the software business full-time.

Altair BASIC was a milestone not only for Gates and Allen, but for the entire personal computing industry. It was one of the first high-level languages available for microcomputers and established the market for commercial software. Gates, often obsessed with optimization, wrote lean and efficient code despite the Altair’s severe memory constraints.

Founding of Microsoft

Later in 1975, Gates and Allen officially founded Micro-Soft (short for “microcomputer software”), later simplified to Microsoft, in Albuquerque. Gates took on the role of business manager and primary programmer, overseeing the development of programming languages and tools for early microcomputers.

Between 1975 and 1980, Gates was directly involved in many software projects, especially porting Microsoft BASIC to an expanding number of platforms, including the MOS Technology 6502 (used in the Apple II), the Zilog Z80, and others. His technical vision helped shape Microsoft into the leading supplier of programming languages for the burgeoning microcomputer industry.

MS-DOS and the Rise of the PC

In 1980, IBM approached Microsoft to provide an operating system for its forthcoming IBM PC. Although Microsoft didn’t have one at the time, Gates negotiated a deal to provide it and quickly acquired rights to an existing OS called QDOS (Quick and Dirty Operating System) from Seattle Computer Products. Microsoft adapted it into MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System), which shipped with the IBM PC in 1981.

This bold and savvy business move— combined with Gates’ insistence that Microsoft retain licensing rights— would catapult Microsoft into a dominant position in the PC software market. Although Gates became more focused on business strategy in the 1980s, his technical roots continued to guide the company's development culture.

Legacy in Programming and Software Development

Bill Gates’ programming contributions in the 1970s were foundational to the microcomputer software industry. His work on BASIC made computing accessible to a generation of users, and his technical insight during the MS-DOS era ensured Microsoft’s critical early success.

While Gates eventually transitioned fully into executive leadership, his programming mindset shaped Microsoft’s early culture: a focus on software portability, efficient code, and aggressive pursuit of technical opportunities. Gates remained involved in reviewing and critiquing product development well into the 1990s, often with a sharp eye for bugs and design flaws.

Bill Gates’ early career is marked by an intense dedication to software, a rare blend of programming brilliance and business acumen, and a vision for putting a computer on every desk and in every home. His early programming accomplishments— notably Altair BASIC and his strategic work on MS-DOS— laid the groundwork for Microsoft’s rise and fundamentally transformed the software industry.


List of major works


External links

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